Overture, the preferred Carrier Ethernet edge and aggregation partner for service providers and network operators worldwide, today announced it has joined the Open Networking Foundation (ONF). A non-profit consortium, ONF is dedicated to the transformation of networking through development and standardization of Software-Defined Networking (SDN).

“Service providers today are looking to SDN and network virtualization to help them simplify operations, spur development of innovative new services, and create virtual networks using an array of products and technologies from multiple vendors. SDN has the potential to minimize network complexity and thereby lower operational expenses – two things completely consistent with the core tenets of Overture’s value proposition,” said Vijay Raman, vice president of product management and marketing, Overture Networks. “As Overture innovates in these areas, it becomes increasingly important to ensure our full compliance with the industry eco-system at large. We are very pleased to be part of a vibrant and dynamic organization such as the ONF.”

“Carrier Ethernet is a market-proven solution allowing service providers to cost-effectively deliver the reliable connectivity needed for the overwhelming flood of data traveling across today’s networks. However, Carrier Ethernet must evolve if it is going to continue accommodating escalating, data-driven bandwidth demand – and that’s where SDN comes in,” said Dan Pitt, executive director, Open Networking Foundation. “Carrier Ethernet and SDN are a natural fit; together, they offer service providers a forward-looking approach for architecting a new generation of high-speed, high-performance networks. We’re very pleased to welcome another recognized Carrier Ethernet leader as a member of ONF.”

The ONF is a non-profit organization committed to the development and standardization of SDN architectures, facilitating direct software programmability in networks. As a part of its charter, ONF is helping to commercialize and promote SDN and related technologies worldwide. Established as the industry’s principal SDN authority, it is also responsible for maintaining the OpenFlow protocol. The organization has more than 80 cross-discipline members from around the world, and maintains a broad variety of technical and market-education initiatives aimed accelerating the adoption of SDN on a global scale. For additional information on the ONF and its industry-wide initiatives, please visit http://www.opennetworking.org.

For information about Overture, please visit www.overturenetworks.com or follow @OvertureNews on Twitter.

About Overture Networks

Overture is the preferred Carrier Ethernet edge and aggregation partner to more than 450 service providers and network operators worldwide. By providing an entrance to a smarter network, service providers can leverage Carrier Ethernet to multiply revenue and streamline operational costs by enabling high-capacity Ethernet services over any physical media, including fiber, copper and TDM. Overture’s solutions are designed for reliability and ease of use, and arm customers to compete in demanding applications such as cloud computing and mobile communications that require greater bandwidth and smarter networks. Overture is headquartered in Research Triangle Park, NC, with offices around the globe. For more information, visit http://www.overturenetworks.com.